Inside Imperial Grounds

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“The Palace made me feel somebody when I am nobody, and made me feel I had everything when in fact, I have nothing”- Seo Janggeum, Jewel in the Palace

Situated at the heart of the Santa Cruz, the Capital of the Province of Laguna, is a vast eight-hectare land that serves as the most important symbol of leadership and progress. A vast landmark that embodies the greatness and warmth of its three-million strong population. An unshakeable symbol of the Province as a gem of history, and birthplace to some of the most remarkable heroes who gave our country her most celebrated heroism. Today, the Laguna Provincial Capitol lies as a center of effective and responsive governance that has created promising positive changes for its people. From its old, traditional landscape, it has been developed to become a world-class government facility that boosts the morale of every a Lagunense.

When I was young, I have always thought of the Laguna Provincial Capitol as a huge Kingdom where the Province’s royalties reside. I have witnessed how year after year, it has been rehabilitated and beautified to serve the people better.

This historic place has indeed become a part of my life, for I have grown and come of age with it. But I have never even imagined that one day, it will become my second home. Like me, the Laguna Provincial Capitol holds various importance to different types of people.

                                                               

But for the Lagunenses in general, the Capitol holds a strong significance not only as the Center of Political Power but also an embodiment of the rich and colourful history and culture of the Province.

It was built to symbolize the Province’s independence and ability to grow, become progressive and withstand the test of time. When people find out that a person works for at the Capitol, he is given a sense of respect and importance by other people.

Early Memories

It was on several occasions when my father would take me with him to visit some friends who work in the Capitol. I can still clearly remember that the first time I set foot there was on the 26^th of December, 1995, when we visited my Grandaunt Conchita Del Mundo who works for the General Services Office. My childhood memories were filled with fun and excitement as I get to roam around the New Capitol Building, running back and forth the vast halls, and up and down the tall staircases. For a child who was at the peak of absorbing everything he sees, it became easy for me to memorize the place’s whereabouts.

At that time, there were only five major structures erected in its grounds: The Old Capitol, the New Capitol, the San Luis Building, the Cultural Center of Laguna, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and other remote offices.  

    

At the back of the Capitol lies a vast golf course where former governors invite other key government officials, dignitaries, investors, and tourists over a friendly game as they talk about development plans, business opportunities, and other relevant matters.

I can still remember how I ran through the green grass which tickles my young body, and brings me close to the Earth. The silence of the green yard has given me a sense of peace. Somehow, I can say that it has given me the impression of being at home. As a certified introvert, the ambiance of an empty golf course embellished with petite green grasses from the airway through the greens has soothed my young soul and allowed me to lament on happy memories despite lacking some of the most important things in life.

I first saw the light of day in Sta. Cruz, Laguna where most of our relatives were based. I was born to a Chinese-Filipino father who made bread and butter as an educator, and to date has already created his own name in the academe for 50 years; and a wealthy Chinese-American mestiza who died the day I was born. 

As the eldest grandson of my maternal clan, I lost my bid for the family fortune when my father took on the burden of raising me with his own sweat and blood, without the help of my mother’s family. 

Despite not having the same privileges as my maternal cousins, my father did everything to give me the world.

All of life’s luster and grandeur. He worked night and day just to give me the illustrious life fit for an heir. He took me to the best places, made me taste the most sumptuous dishes, and gave me pride with his achievements, especially when we walk on a public area and someone would always greet him out of the blue. I have felt a great sense of pride carrying a name that gives weight to the inferior person that I am.

As I slowly gain age and acquire experiences, I have been accustomed to Sta. Cruz being my home town and the Provincial Capitol as my playground. Whenever I need something, I know where to go. Whenever boredom strikes, I know where I can kill my time.  Whenever I need time to lament on things, I would always choose from two options: First, hide near the river and listen carefully as the gentle waves whisper nature’s lullaby into my little ears; or go to the Provincial Capitol Compound and roll over the Golf Course and run to my heart’s content.

Even as a child, I felt really amazed how despite its grandeur and high-class landscape, the gates of the Provincial Capitol have always been open to the common Lagunense. When the area is not being used for its intended purpose, students use it to practice for dance routines, and even conduct not only P.E. demonstrations but also major subjects as well. With an ambiance of fresh air and natural shade of trees, which shower the landscape with falling petals, one would surely have a fun and relaxing learning environment compared to a normal classroom.

                                                                 

I had my early education at our town’s Public Central School where I was captivated by the simplicity and natural beauty of one classmate. With her beautiful eyes, charming smile, and cute dimples, yes, this girl became my first love.

My school was just steps away from the Capitol. I spent long, gruelling hours in school memorizing my lessons, but not to obtain a straight line of nine (9) grades but to catch the attention of the girl whom I used to love dearly at such a young age.                                

 Every day, I would always pass and marvel at how beautiful the Capitol is. I was awe-inspired by its historic aura and regal structures. The wide spaces that grow with nature, plus the reverberating sound of the bells from the Roman Catholic church can give one a mix of an eerie and solemn feeling.

My friends would tease and dare each other on who can reach the Golf Course first. We would point our fingers to each other. Though I am not an athletic kid, I would always give in to their gibberish dares.    

On nights when the moon and the stars light the sky and shine its brightest, me and my dad would walk around the front area of the Capitol to buy some midnight snacks sold by small caritellas and stalls strategically placed within the passages. They offer simple but filling foods such as grilled meat, innards and hot porridge. There are times that when my father has commitments, my two grandaunts would take a stroll with me.

                                                               

Excitement began filling my vigor after dark as they would recall their colorful experiences of surviving war, of how other people claim that Jose Rizal still remains alive and is just in hiding somewhere in the historic Mount Makiling, how guerillas would siege Japanese soldiers and how the latter would brutally retaliate, and their adventure-filled days in Binondo when they were still running their family’s small restaurant. I used to believe that I am not the only one listening to their adventures. The stars in the sky, the trees, the rock, and every energy that flows within the Capitol also enjoy our animated story sessions.

I listened to them with enthusiasm, until my excitement fades with the stars. Then, I began feeling lonely on how these eventualities deprived them with the comforts and privileges of life. And then, they would carry me home.

The Palace of Grand Entertainment

Perhaps, the most relevant part of the Capitol for me was the Cultural Center of Laguna. It was on this posh, octagon-shaped venue that many of the most unforgettable moments in my life have transpired. In 1995, I had my first shot at modelling as a kid endorser of Moderno Ethnico, a local clothing line owned by one of my godmothers. Wearing a black and green-checkered long sleeve terno, with a t-shirt bearing the company’s name, I confidently walked the runway and thought I was a child star. I strut my stuff but most of the time, I wasn’t looking at the audience.

                                                               

My godmother kept asking me “Sweetheart, why are you not looking at the audience who applauds for you? Are you shy?”. I would look at her and shake my head, and point to her the reason why I was looking up all the time- the grand silverball-embellished chandelier centrepiece of the Cultural Center, which indeed, keeps me mesmerized even until today.

It was also on this grand venue where I saw my father perform several times as a host and as singer. Every time we attend an occasion, people who know him already know that he is going to belt out his two favorite songs- My Way and The Impossible Dream. I would even hear some of his closest friends poke him with silly antics. “Pareng Reneber, hindi ba madaming napapatay yang kantang yan? (Isn’t that song responsible for the demise of many people who dare sing it?)”. But he wouldn’t mind. He would just laugh about it, and perform the same line up of songs all over again.

Another memorable occasion happened in the Cultural Center in 2002. Exactly a month before my childhood idol Rico Yan was found dead in his cottage, I had my first foray of hosting a big event, which happens to be one of the most important parts of a teenager’s life- the Junior and Senior Promenade. I was wearing a gorgeous black coat and tie as I conquered the stage for the first time. Though many have told me that being a host would deprive one of the ultimate JS experience, I preferred holding the microphone because I felt that I would become bored to death if I am only there to attend- which I have proven true the following year.

                                                                 

For decades, the Cultural Center of Laguna has served as a bastion of the authentic Lagunense culture which has continuously developed with the changing needs of the changing times. Its world-class architecture speaks of the eloquence and the nobility of life in the early Laguna, constantly improved through songs, dances and arts that allow local and foreign tourists to lament on the province’s journey towards progress. But contrary to the Center’s elite design, it has five steps, which symbolizes that Culture and the Arts is not only a pastime of High Society but also accessible for Lagunenses from all walks of life.

And true enough, the Cultural Center of Laguna has been the venue of numerous occasions-from state dinners, diplomatic events and grand parties to private functions such as birthdays, graduation, and even distribution programs.

Building the First Palace

Right in front of the Cultural Center of Laguna is the oldest, most enduring structure inside the Provincial Capitol. Popularly known as “Lumang Kapitolyo”, the Old Capitol Building is the first structure to be built in the compound.

It served as the Office of Laguna’s first Governors. Since the building has been existent for more than a hundred years, and has witnessed how the whole Capitol Compound has evolved, it now carries a weary look that speaks of the decades it has endured and the changes that came with it.

                                                                 

After the Office of the Governor was transferred to the New Capitol Building, the “Lumang Kapitolyo” became the quarters of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Registry of Deeds, and the Department of Education Division Office. Its age can be determined by looking at the Big, old wooden doors that welcome guests to a small staircase mad of marbles.

Walk further and one would see the grand staircase which leads to the second floor, with two giant windows that open up to the grounds. Its intricacy, neo-hispanic design and sturdy structure hold a strong significance in the history of the Provincial Capitol.

Just like other old structures, the Old Capitol has not been an exception to haunted stories. Some claim that the walls of this building plays silent witness to the souls of Japanese soldiers, comfort women, and guerrillas roaming around when silence looms in its portals. But then again, these are but stories- old wives’ tale and folklore with an untraceable root.

Today, the Old Capitol undergoes tremendous renovation to become the Governor’s Mansion. With the implementation of this infrastructure project, Lagunenses witness as power returns to where it first dwelled more than one hundred years ago.

                                                                 

Key Palaces

Situated at the left side of the Old Capitol, the two-storey San Luis Building houses other key offices and departments of the Provincial Capitol such as the Assessors’ Office, the Human Resources Management Department, and the Laguna Culture, Arts, and Trade Office, which occupies the former Canteen.

Found on the second floor are other key offices such as the Commission on Audit, the Management Information Systems Office, Economic Relief Fund, Provincial Urban Development and Housing Office, and the International Relations Trade Office. The second floor offers a view of the former Governors’ monuments and the wide green garden that serves as pathway to the employees reporting in the said departments.    

Upon entering the Provincial Capitol Grounds, few steps away from the Old Capitol, stands the obelisk monument of former governors. Made of real bronze and black marble, these former governors have been given a most befitting royal salute even when they have already entered mortality.

Each governor carries his own legacy, and through these obelisk masks, the past, present and future generations of Lagunenses shall be reminded of the greatness of these men, and how they were empowered with the passionate will to serve the people and lead them towards sustained progress and genuine development.

                                               

Relocation

I have always envisioned myself growing old, serving the community, and breathing my last in Sta. Cruz, which has been my home, and my comfort zone. Never in my wildest thoughts have I imagined that fate has other plans.

Destiny took a sudden turn one Tuesday afternoon, when my father received a call from the School President of the academic institution he was applying in. He got accepted as a professor for subjects such as Rizal’s Life, Spanish, English, and Filipino. I was also excited since he finally landed a job commensurate to his unparalleled achievements in the field of education.

However, with the joy I felt inside comes a reality that shattered me so much. For economic purposes and convenience measures, I would have to leave the urban savvy Sta. Cruz and settle for a rural, laid back life in the quiet Pila, which is separated by a 30-minute travel time.

My innate rebel did everything to stop the daunting change of residence, which at that time gave me the impression of a change in lifestyle as well. I kept on asking myself, “How am I going to live in a 4^th class municipality without establishments I can run to when I want to take a stroll? What about my friends? My cousins? I can’t begin a new life anymore”. Silly claims from six-year old kid who utters gibberish words that his young heart holds as truth.

                                                                                                                  

Maybe because of my strong resistance, Dad duped me so that I can no longer refuse. He told me that he was going to take me with him to work, but actually, while we were in school, our things were already being transferred to our new home at the town proper. I was dumbfounded, but saddened by the reality that there was no longer a home in Sta. Cruz waiting for me. And unlike before, I can no longer go to the Capitol during my free time.

But there were times when one of my grandaunts would take a short trip to Sta. Cruz, which is also one of our province’s major trading center where we would scan for cheap finds. I can still remember how her eyes would glow at the sight of retail items like dresses, second-hand shoes, and even food. My reward for coming with her would be colorful candies sold at one peso each. Then she’ll tell me “Every time you come with me, I promise to treat you with these sweets, but promise me that you will brush your teeth after wards”, something which I agreed to, but never actually followed. Where will I consume these sweets? At the Capitol, of course. Only then can she force me to go home.

Our first year in Pila was a bittersweet honeymoon period. Away from the lights and noise of a hefty night life, I and my dad lived simply by dint of hard work, perseverance, and frugal living. We simply lived in a happy home where parental affection and simplicity reigned. By day, children’s voices echo through her historic portals together with the birds swaying with the soft wind blow.

                                                               

My young memories were filled with how the sun rose and perked up the townspeople as they filled the vast farms with palay, patiently waiting until the fields turn into lush greens, until the stalks turn gold and bow to the heavens, signifying that harvest time is fast approaching.  My eyes saw how the orange sky faded into black as the townspeople call it a day. I enjoyed the kind of entertainment my father has given me. Yet, the Laguna Provincial Capitol was still the best park for me.

A Dragon Scribe Comes Home

Unfortunately, just as when Pila has nurtured me to the fullest, history has repeated itself. I found myself in the shoes of my Dad when he landed on a job in a school in Pila more than a decade ago. In another unexpected turn of fate, I was fortunate to be employed in the Provincial Capitol, which also requires me to return to Sta. Cruz so that I can easily report to the office anytime I am needed. Then, I can smell in my soul the scent of being a Sta. Cruzenio, a mark that I have always carried with me even though I have fallen in love with Pila. 

It was indeed a most joyous decision to make. Sta. Cruz’s grandson has finally returned home. When I was packing my things, a striking memory came to me. I was suddenly reminded of how I detested Dad’s decision of transferring to Pila years ago. Now, I felt saddened by this decision to leave my home town, but I also felt happiness as I dwelled on the poignant childhood memories I have created within the Capitol.

                                                               

So many promising positive changes have been implemented in the Capitol under the incumbent administration. Offices have been improved and made more comfortable to facilitate better transactions between the employees and their clientele. Two highly-intricate fountains, which are replicas of the fountains in Malacanan Palace, were built in front of the New Capitol and the FAITH Training Center, which temporarily serves as the Office of the Governor. Two Rizal Monuments, made of authentic bronze, where strategically located to complement the fountains and create an aura reminiscent to Old Madrid. 

My heart broke into pieces when bulldozers came one day and cleared the Golf Course to convert it into the Festival Grounds. In a way, I was happy with the decision because the Capitol will become closer to its people. Then came brighter lights that embellished its trees and turned it into a fantasy land where honeydew drops fall magically. All the muddy parts of the Capitol where we used to trek were no longer visible after it has been covered by cement, permanently burying my memories under piles of solid ground. But I still carry with me the memories I made with my very first childhood friends.

My tears flowed when one of my grandaunts died, especially during the time I was not on her side.  But I have learned to celebrate these memories. Memories that will keep my love for the Capitol relentlessly burning, especially now that I am a part of it.

                                                               

Everyday, I join the more than 3,000 employees of the Provincial Capitol who wear an Orange uniform. With them, I wholeheartedly recite the Capitol Employees Oath, for two years after I have been employed, everything still remains surreal for me.

It is indeed delightful to know and write about the Capitol. She possesses a keen sense of history and an aura of destiny. In all years of her existence, I am lucky to witness how she has developed. With her massive rehabilitation came the genuine progress development that transpired in the whole Province. Progress is beginning to transform her portals as the Historic Gem of the New Laguna.

I have always loved the Capitol. I am sure that I shall love her until my last breath. I shall carry those memories as I now walk everyday on her historic grounds. Her scent continues to empower my senses and drive my soul, for her history has become a part of my life.

A dragon scribe comes home to the Imperial Grounds.